Top Up Magnesium And Reduce Risk of Staggers
UK - Providing an autumn magnesium supply for cattle in order to avoid grass staggers is vital, according to James Brinicombe, director of Denis Brinicombe Group, Devon
28 September 2007
2 minute read
“Often the first sign of hypomagnesaemia is sudden death, and finding a high yielding dairy cow or a suckler cow with a calf at foot, dead can be the first sight to greet a stockman in a morning.”
Mr Brinicombe.
“October can be one of the most dangerous months of the year for cattle as hypomagnesaemia (grass staggers) can occur on any farm across the UK,” said Mr Brinicombe.
“The risk of staggers is high when we get wet weather, cooler nights and high rainfall that create the conditions for continued grass growth, which is low in nutrients but high in water content.
“An imbalance in nutrients, especially magnesium, cannot be avoided in such situations, especially if the grass is the main source of minerals, with no additional supplement being on offer.”
The incidents of staggers most commonly occurs in mature, lactating cows that are being grazed at grass, when the milk yield is high, but the grass is low in magnesium and energy.
“The application of fertiliser, following a late cut of silage for instance, can also have an effect, as high levels of potassium can restrict the uptake of magnesium by the grass. High levels of nitrogen and potassium can also interfere with magnesium absorption in the animal’s digestive system,” he said.
“Often the first sign of hypomagnesaemia is sudden death, and finding a high yielding dairy cow or a suckler cow with a calf at foot, dead can be the first sight to greet a stockman in a morning.”
Sometimes a cow will show symptoms before death, says Mr Brinicombe.
“Cows will become increasingly nervous, will shake, walk stiffly and when they collapse their legs and feet will ‘paddle’ and their heads will be held back.”
Source: Farmers Guardian
